Abstract
Patients in cardiogenic shock may benefit from treatment with mechanical circulatory support systems. These systems permit either bridging to the recovery of native heart function (bridge to weaning) or bridging to a natural cardiac graft (bridging to transplantation). The present world experience includes 965 implants for bridging to weaning and 544 implants for bridging to transplantation. From this experience it has become clear that patients about to die have the possibility for survival after or with mechanical circulatory support. The risks of the procedures have also been clearly shown. Based on current experience new orientations for clinical research and developments in bioengineering are indicated.
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